Soul of Furies (Book Three)

Chapter 27: New Day

Hiccup's POV

This past week was one of the most stressful times I've ever experienced. First I find out that my wife has only a short amount of time left to live, we lose our temper at one another, and then...then she disappears for a week. I thought she was going off to die, and that thought alone filled me with guilt.

Every day, I searched, hoping with every part of myself that she was still alive. Not even the best tracker dragons on Berk could find a trace of hers or Nightstar's scent. Trying to explain to Destin and Runa that their mother was missing...that was far more difficult than I thought it'd be.

This morning, I half expect to wake up alone again with the empty space beside me cold and unfeeling, but no. No, that's not the case at all.

Thora is home again, pressed up against me, her head on my bare chest. I move slightly and her arms tighten around my middle, like she's trying to keep me near her for a little longer. Her face softens as soon as I relax, making me smile before I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. I let my head sink back onto the pillow, a slow breath leaving me.

Thora shifts for a second before her eyes flutter open. She makes a small grunting noise as her cheek rubs against my arm, her eyelids fluttering as she tries to wake up.

"Morning m'lady," I greet.

"Morning," she mumbles, the tiniest of genuine smiles on her lips. She stretches a little, wriggling out of my tight grip as she pushes herself up. Resting her forearms on my chest, she tilts her head to the side. "What're your plans for today?"

"I was thinking that Destin and Runa can always use more flying practice," I say. "Plus...I possibly wanted to explore some new terrain." I give her a hopeful look.

She shakes her head as a tiny laugh leaves her. "You never change, do you?"

"Nope, but you love me," I tease, placing a hand on her neck and bringing her lips to mine.

She smiles lightly beneath the embrace, her fingers trailing along my skin as she leans a little closer.

"MOM! DAD! I WANNA GO TO BREAKFAST!" Destin calls from downstairs. "I'm a hungry Viking who needs food!"

Thora breaks the kiss, glancing towards the door before she rolls over and gets out of bed. I sigh and run a hand through my hair, messing it up further before stretching.

She gets dressed swiftly, twists her hair back into her usual braid, and heads downstairs. I follow suit, meeting my family near our dining table.

"Morning daddy!" Runa greets as she dashes past my legs, trying to catch a very evasive Thunder Song.

I glance out the nearest window, noting that the Night Furies have already hurried outside and are waiting for us to join them. Destin waits by the door, shifting back and forth on his feet as he swings his arms back and forth.

"Destin, standing there looking anxious isn't gonna make us move faster," Thora chides.

"But I'm hungry, and I promised Astrior I'd get there early and save a spot for her!" he insists.

"Oh, you're going after a Hofferson too?" I tease, moving to his side. I ruffle his hair and wink. "I used to be just like you, son."

"Dad, no...Astrior is my friend," Destin whines, trying to bat my hands away.

"A friend who you think is pretty!" Runa teases, gripping at Thunder Song as he desperately tries to escape her hold. The blonde bounces over to her older brother, a bright grin on her face. "You told me!"

Destin turns pink and looks away, mumbling something inaudible under his breath. Thora joins us, shaking her head at our antics.

"Come on, let's get to the Great Hall," she suggests.

We leave the house, Runa losing her grip on Thunder Song as soon as we're out the door. Slayer and Stardust watch the Terror race away, their eyes large with wonder. Destin turns around and walks backwards, looking up at Thora and I.

"Mom, dad, could I train with Emerald again today?" he asks, looking hopeful.

"Just Emerald?" I ask. "Why not Dark Moon?"

"I don't think he likes having someone ride him. Emerald is more my type of dragon," he says.

Dark Moon looks up at the boy, his yellow eyes narrowing as he snorts. Emerald smacks her brother with her wing, giving him a scolding look. He rolls his eyes and shuffles off, looking rather pouty at being told off by his sister, while Toothless eyes his son and lets a rumbling laugh escape his throat.

"Maybe she should be your dragon," Thora suggests. "Would you want that?"

Destin's eyes brighten. "You mean it?"

"Every young boy needs a dragon," I agree.

Destin grins, spinning around and dashing towards the green-eyed dragon. "Emmy! Did you hear that? You get to be my dragon!"

The loving young Night Fury churrs and rubs her head against his torso. He scratches at her ear plates, grinning widely. Runa looks away from her brother and up at me, pouting.

"How come he gets a dragon and I don't?" she whines.

"Because you're not old enough yet. You need more time to train with multiple dragons before you pick," I tell her.

The blonde watches as our clan of Night Furies takes off into the sky, heading off for morning fishing with the other dragons. She ponders our words, glancing over at us again.

"I like Slayer. He acts all tough and charming but he's really a sweetheart," she says. "But I dunno yet."

"You have a lot of time to decide, darling," Thora says, smiling at our daughter. "No need to rush."

We watch our dragons disappear, spiralling off into the near distance. I wrap my arm around Thora's waist, smiling a tiny bit. Destin and Runa race ahead of us, laughing as the sun shines off their hair. I feel Thora press herself closer to my side, adding just a bit more pressure to my side.

"Love you," she murmurs.

I smile, hardly questioning how out of the blue her statement is. Instead, I just return with, "I love you too."